ABSTRACT

If we just begin with the scene as written, Manilov can appear simply as a welcoming, gen de, even charming and generous host, wh om Chichikov can talk to and easily get what he wants. That may be so. But that is only how Manilov appears at the beginning of Gogol's book. The further we go on, the worse he becomes, and in a very short time we begin to tire of him. How are we to show that on stage? What 'wants~ what actions can express it?